Aldermen Greg Helding and Aron Wisneski put out this release today:
Racine is one step away from allowing the operation of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs). On Tuesday, May 6th, at 5:30 PM, there will be a brief press conference and demonstration in front of City Hall, 730 Washington Ave, Racine, WI. Tim Thompson, from Green Autos in Janesville will be demonstrating a ZENN Motors NEV. Aldermen Greg Helding and Aron Wisneski will be available to answer questions about the proposed ordinance, which allows the operation of NEVs in Racine, provided they are properly licensed with the state and stay on roadways with speed limits of 35 MPH or less. The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption at 7PM that same night.
Having just seen the movie, "
Who Killed the Electric Car?" over the weekend, I'll admit to being a big fan of these cars (not a big enough fan to buy one, though). Let's hope the company finds enough success to build bigger, faster, better electric cars in the near future.
Here's our
original article on the ZENN.
Cool as the ZENN may be, how about one of
these?
This looks promising ...
link
Read More...
Summary only...
We're a little behind on city meetings here ...
Congratulations to Alderman David Maack for being voted City Council president for the coming year. He was elected on a unanimous vote by the council at its April 15 meeting. The council typically sticks with seniority when it comes to selecting a new council president each year.
Below are the committee assignments for the next year. Alderman Tom Friedel retains control of the Finance and Personnel Committee, a powerful position because of its ties to the budget. Aldermen Greg Helding and Q.A. Shakoor II chair the public works and public safety committees, respectively. Here's the list:
FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Alderman Thomas Friedel, Chairman
Alderman James Spangenberg, Vice-Chairman
Alderman David Maack
Alderman Robert Anderson
Alderman Michael Shields
PUBLIC WORKS AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
Alderman Greg Helding, Chairman
Alderman Ronald Hart, Vice-Chairman
Alderman Sandy Weidner
Alderman Jeff Coe
Alderman Raymod DeHahn
PUBLIC SAFETY AND LICENSING COMMITTEE
Alderman Q.A. Shakoor II, Chairman
Alderman Aron Wisneski, Vice-Chairman
Alderman James Kaplan
Alderman Robert Mozol
Alderman Terry McCarthy
ALDERMAN AT-LARGE FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Alderman Sandy Weidner
Looking AheadThe council will discuss video surveillance during its Committee of the Whole meeting on May 6. True to his word, Alderman Greg Helding is bringing the topic up for discussion.
Read More...
Summary only...
Money is flowing in the race for the City Council's 12th District.
Incumbent Aron Wisneski and challenger Joey LeGath have raised the most money among candidates for city office this spring, according to the March 24 campaign finance reports.
Wisneski, finishing his first term, raised $2,959 year-to-date and has over $2,000 to spend in the closing days of the election. He had the most individual contributions of all candidates, receiving donations from 16 individuals.
LeGath, who owns three bars, raised $6,295 year-to-date and spent $2,562.06 through March 24, leaving him over $3,700 to spend before Tuesday's election. LeGath gave his own campaign $4,000.
Ken Lumpkin has spent $2,278 so far in his race with Jim Kaplan for the council's Fourth District. Kaplan has spent $174.50 so far. Lumpkin and Kaplan are also running for the County Board.
Troy Johnson has spent $1,775 in a race for the Ninth District seat vacated by Pete Karas. His opponent, Terry McCarthy, has spent $223.53. Johnson and Wisneski had several donors in common on their reports.
And, challenger Jameel Ghuari is outspending Bob Anderson in the Second District. Ghuari has raised and spent $791, nearly five times as much as Anderson.
Local candidates are required to file a pre-election campaign finance report with the City Clerk by March 24. Another report is due after the election.
Here's a recap of each candidate's campaign finance report:
District 2
Bob Anderson
Contributions - $200
Expenses - $169.76
Balance - $30.24
Jameel Ghuari
Contributions - $791.67
Expenses - $791.67
Balance - $0
* $30 contribution from Donnie Snow
District 4Jim Kaplan
Contributions - $418.28
Expenses - $174.50
Balance - $243.78
* $100 contribution from the First District GOP
Ken Lumpkin
Contributions - $2,278
Expenses - $2,278
Balance - $0
* Campaign finance report filed three days late
District 6Sandy Weidner
* Reported no campaign activity
District 8Q.A. Shakoor II
* No report filed; expected to file no campaign activity
District 9Terry McCarthy
Contributions - $300
Expenses - $223.53
Balance - $81.47
Troy Johnson
Contributions - $1,775
Expenses - $317.25
Balance - $1,457.75
* 16 contributions
District 10Tom Friedel
* Reported no campaign activity
District 12Aron Wisneski
Contributions - $2,959
Expenses - $893
Balance - $2,066
* Citizens for Helding gave Wisneski $100
Joey LeGath
Contributions - $6,295
Expenses - $2,562.06
Balance - $3,739.94
* $200 from the Wisconsin Peoples Conference
District 14Ronald Hart
* Reported no campaign activity
Read More...
Summary only...
The Racine Interfaith Coalition is hosting two local election forums this week. The forums include:
12th District
Tuesday, March 25, 6-8 p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St.
Candidates: Aaron Wiseneski and Joseph Legath
4th District
Thursday, March 27, 6-8 p.m.
Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church, 929 State St.
Candidates: James Kaplan and Ken Lumpkin
Read More...
Summary only...
The Racine Police Association and Firefighters Union endorsed incumbent Aron Wisneski for the City Council's 12th District seat.
"I am proud to accept their support," Wisneski said. "These men and women work hard every day to protect us from danger."
"That message came through loud and clear through his work on this year’s budget," said Craig Ford, Executive Board Member of the Racine Firefighters Local 321. "Aron worked hard to make sure we have the resources we need to protect the people of Racine."
"I have great working relationships with our Police and Fire Departments," said Wisneski. "I look forward to continuing those in my second term."
Todd Hoover, President of the Racine Police Association, had praised Wisneski’s work so far.
"Aron really understands the needs of his district. He has helped to strengthen the relationship between the Police and the people of the 12th District."
"When the troubles at the Speedway station started spilling into the neighborhood, Aron got involved right away," said Karen Nielsen, who lives near the gas station. "Aron worked with the police and helped to get things under control."
Wisneski was first elected to the Common Council in 2006 and is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Joey LeGath.
The general election is Tuesday, April 1.
Read More...
Summary only...
UPDATE: Ghuari is running for council, along with several other challengers to incumbents. In all, five of the eight elections for City Council are contested, so far. There are no primaries, so far. The deadline to file is Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. Here's the list:
SECOND DISTRICT
ROBERT L. ANDERSON, 1638 S. MAIN STREET,
JAMEEL GHUARI, 1700 S. WISCONSIN AVE.
FOURTH DISTRICT
JAMES E. KAPLAN, 400 KEWAUNEE STREET
KENNETH LUMPKIN, 1646 EAST STREET
SIXTH DISTRICT
SANDY J. WEIDNER, 2310 THOR AVENUE
EIGHTH DISTRICT
Q.A. SHAKOOR, 1516 W. 6TH STREET
NINTH DISTRICT
TERRENCE A. McCARTHY, 317 WEST BLVD.
TROY W. JOHNSON, 1571 MARIA STREET
TENTH DISTRICT
THOMAS FRIEDEL, 1904 DWIGHT STREET
CHARLI WALTER LEROY SMITH, JR., 2312 WEBSTER STREET
TWELFTH DISTRICT
ARON WISNESKI, 1025 ARTHUR AVENUE
JOSEPH LEGATH, 1423 HICKORY WAY
FOURTEENTH DISTRICT
RONALD D. HART, 4420 REPUBLIC AVE.
Old post:
We're hearing from people that Jameel Ghuari, head of the Bray Center in Racine, has taken out papers to run for City Council. Ghuari would run in the city's second district, which is currently represented by first-termer Robert Anderson.
Read More...
Summary only...
